Josh McEachran Interview

Josh McEachran Interview

SoccerBible caught up with Chelsea and England Under-21s rising star Josh McEachran. Josh joined the Chelsea Academy 10 years ago and broke into the Chelsea first-team last season with appearances in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League. McEachran, 18, told SoccerBible how his boots aid his game and named his fast-food guilty pleasure!

SB: The CTRs are sometimes labelled as a midfielder s boots . Do you think there s something about them that suits that position? JM: Definitely. It's the lightness and the comfort of them. As a midfielder, you're doing a lot of running. You've got to play between both boxes so the lightness and comfort is key. The boots have a textured side and extra padding. It makes them good for passing. I really like the touch you get on the ball. SB: What colourway are you wearing and do you have any customisation added? JM: It's the black, white and red one. I have my surname on the side and I'm getting my number added soon! SB: You have been involved in some high profile youth games. Have you kept your debut boots or any special pairs?

JM: I've kept the boots I wore to win the Under-17s European Championship and the FA Youth Cup. They're back at home and I'm going to get them framed up.

SB: How was pre-season for you?

JM: Training and playing with world-class players is great. It's been good for me. I'm still young, so to get to tour Asia this summer was a great experience.

SB: Are training sessions different under the new manager AndrÉ Villas-Boas?

JM: Carlo and AndrÉ are different types of managers with different techniques for training. The new manager likes us pressing the opposition so we're practising that. It's certainly helping me as a player.

SB: How are the new signings (Juan Mata, Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaku) settling in at the club?

JM: They've setted in really well. They're all young and it's great that Chelsea is looking to the future. For their initiation, they each had to sing a song. They were all pretty bad to be fair. The best was Lukaka, he sang an African song. The worst was Mata. He sang The Macarena!

SB: You've been at Chelsea since the age of eight. What's the best advice you have recieved ther - and from who?

JM: John Terry always gives me good advice. He tells me to keep my head down and keep working and that if I do I can have a great future at the club.

SB: Being so young, how do you keep yourself grounded?

 

JM: My mum and dad are good for that! I spend time with three good friends from school, I've known them since I was little so it's good to do that.

SB: England boss Fabio Capello has said publicly that he s keeping a close eye on you . What has he said to you and what are your international ambitions? JM: I've not heard from him personally. I've seen little bits in the newspaper. I'm in the Under-21s at the moment and hopefully if I can play a few more games for Chelsea I could get a call-up. SB: Were you tempted to go out on loan for more first-team action this season? JM: I did want to go at the start of the season but AndrÉ said I would get enough games here. That's given me a boost and I just want to play for Chelsea now. SB: What are the priorities for Chelsea this season? JM: We want to win every trophy, but I think the priorities are the Premier League title and winning the Champions League.

SB: What is the best dressing room prank you've seen?

JM: Probably Deep Heat in the boxers! It was in the Reserve team, but I can't name names. I wasn't involved!

 

SB: Who is your best mate in football?

JM: Billy Clifford. We've been at Chelsea together since I was eight so we've known each other for ages. He plays for Chelsea Reserves at the moment.

SB: How do you relax away from the game?

JM: I play FIFA quite a lot. I like going to watch films and eating out with my friends. The last film I saw was The Inbetweeners. It's really funny. KFC is a guilty pleasure.

SoccerBible caught up with Josh McEachran at the launch of the new Nike Zone at the SoccerScene store on London's Carnaby Street.